Starting means for vapor-rectifying devices.



P. CONRAD.

STARTING MEANS FOR VAPOR REGTIFYING DEVICES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1906.

975,399. Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

2 sums-sum: 1.

Fig. I

INVENTOR ,ZBY z I ATTORNEY P. CONRAD.

STARTING MEANS FOR VAPOR BEGTIFYING DEVICES.

APPLIUATI-ON FILED SEPT. 20, 1906.

Patented Nqv.15,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES. zfui/ ATTORNEY [UNITED STATES PATENT onmen.

CON BAD, 0F SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- ERIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.-

STARTING MEANS FOR VAPOR RECTIFYING DEVICES.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Iajgenijed,.N'ov, 15, 19.10, Application flied September 20, 1906. Serial No. 835,527.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK CONRAD a citi-' which a vapor is utilized as the rectifying which has usually consisted in tilting the receptacle for the mercury vapor so as to I cause arcing by spilling mercu'r from one portionof the receptacle to anot er. When such a rectifier is connected to a'direct current distributing circuit that is subject to interruption, as, for instance, to'an'arc lamp circuit, the rectifying process must be started after each interruption. The devices have consequently requlred constant attendance.

According to the present invention, start ing of the rectifying recess is effected automatically'upon estab 'shment of the direct current circuit, and the rectifier is main tained in substantially continuous operation," even'when connected to a; circuit that is subject to interruption.

Figure 1 ofthe accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic view ofa system'aiida vertical sectional view of a device that embody my. invention, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification of the invention.

A substantially pear-shaped receptacle 1, from which the air has been exhausted and that is filled with mercury vapor, is p rovided in its u per, larger end with inwardly extendingv tu ular projections 2 and 3 through the lower ends of which project conductors 4 and 5 that support substantiallycup-shaped terminals 6 and 7 Surrounding terminals 6 and 7, within the receptacle 1, are tubular extensions 8 and 9 of the pro'ections 2 and 3 having substantially hook-s aped lower extremities, the open articula'rly to those in.

connected a pool of mercur. '14 that forms the negative terminal of t e device and is connected, by means of a conductor 15, to the remaining terminal of the direct current distributing circuit, a switch 16 being provided for opening and closing the said circuit.

The receptacle 1 is provided, near its lower end, with a protuberance 17 containing a 001 of mercury 18 that is separated from he pool 14 by only a short space. A conductor 19 connects the 001' of mercury 18 with one terminal of a iseharge gap 20,,

the secondary windin 22 of an inductive "discharge device 23 being connected between the other terminal of the gap and the conductor 15. In Fig. 1, primary winding 24 of the device 23 is supplied from a suitable source of direct current, such as a battery 25, and included in circuit therewith is a suitable interru ting device 26, a normall open switch 2 and a normally close switch 28. The switch 27 is provided with an operating magnet winding 29 that is connected in circuit with'primary winding 30 ofthe transformer '11, so that switch 27 is closed only when the primary windin 30 is energized. This switch 27 is provide for .the pur ose'of interrupting the circuitdof ormer 11 is iswhen' the trans om the supply circuit, so that the direct current source may not supply the win in current continuousl when the rectifier is j notin operation. T e switch 28 isprovided with an operating magnet winding 31 that is connected in the main direct c rrent cii's cuit and becomes energized open the switch 8 and, consequentl the rimary circuit of the discharge device 23 w on the rectifier is in operation.

In order to start operation of the rectifier, primary winding 30 of the transformer should be first connected to the supply circuit by closing a switch 32, and the switch. a

'16 should also be closed, whereupon switch should be so arranged that the discharges will be from the pool 18 to the pool 14, in order to preclude all possibility of the pool 18 becoming the negative terminal of the device. The discharge gap device 20 serves the usual function of increasing the intensity of the discharge between the pools of mercury 14 and 18, and also assists in preventing direct current from traversing the wiiidin 22.

In Fig. 2, the primary winding 24 of .the discharge device 23 is supplied from a small auxiliary secondary winding 33 that is provided for the transformer 11, in which case no means are necessary for 0pening the circuit of the winding 24 when the rectifier is not in operation. However, since the discharge may occur in either direction between the pools 14and 18, on account of the alternating character of the primary current, it may be advisable to include a condenser 34 in series circuit with the winding 22, in or-' der to prevent the pool 18 from becoming the negative terminal of the device and establishment of the direct current circuit through the winding 22. Y

Obviously, the structural details of the device and the circuit arrangements and connections may. be varied considerably without altering the mode of operation of the invention or departing materially from its spirit, and I desire that all such modifications shall be included within its scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vapor rectifying device for alter-- nating current comprising a receptacle for the vapor, a negative terminal, and an aux: iliary terminal, in combination with means for causing electrical discharges between the auxiliary and negative terminals, said means comprising inductively relatedprimary and secondary circuits the latter of which is connected between the negative and; auxiliary terminals, a condenser in the secondary circuit, and means for opening the primary circuit after the rectifying process has begun.

2. A vapor rectifying device for alternat- I begun.

ing current comprising a receptacle for the vapor, a negative terminal, and an auxiliary term nal, A in combination with means for causing electrical discharges between the auxiliary and negative terminals, said means I comprising inductively related primary and secondary circuits the latter of which is con nected between the negative and auxiliary terminals, a discharge gap and a condenser in the secondary circuit, and means for opening the primary circuit after the rectifying process has begun.

3. A'vapor'rectifying device for alternating current, comprising a receptacle foi'the vapor, a negative terminal, and an auxiliary terminal, in combination with means for causing electrical discharges between the auxiliary and negative terminals comprising a primary and a secondary circuit, means for opening the primary: circuit when the alternating current circuit of the device is I not established, and means for opening the primary circuit when the directcurr'ent cir cuit is established.

4. A vapor rectifying device for alternat-f ing current comprising a receptacle'for' the vapor, a negative terminal, and an auxiliary terminal, in combination with means for-v causing electrical discharges between the auxiliary and negative terminals, said means comprising inductively related primary and secondary circuits the latter of which is connected between the negative and auxiliary terminals, a discharge primary circuit after the rectifying process has begun.

ap in the secondary circuit, and means or'" opening the 5. A vapor rectifying device for alternating current comprising a receptacle'for the vapor, a negative terminal and anauxiliary terminal, in coinbination with means forcausing electrical discharges between the auxiliary and negative 11813111111315, said means comprising inductively related primary and secondary circuits the latter of which is'connected between the negative and auxiliary terminals, an interrupter in the primary circuit, and means for opening the primary circuit after the rectifying process has In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of September, 1906.

FRANK CONRAD. Witnesses O'r'ro S. SoHAiREn, BIRNEY HINES. 

